About

Bára Gísladóttir is an Icelandic composer and double bassist based in Copenhagen.Her music has been performed by ensembles and orchestras such as The Danish National Symphony Orchestra, The Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Duo Harpverk, Elektra Ensemble, Ensemble Adapter, Ensemble InterContemporain, Ensemble New Babylon, Esbjerg Ensemble, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, loadbang, Marco Fusi, Mimitabu, NJYD, Nordic Affect, Riot Ensemble, Siggi String Quartet and TAK Ensemble. Bára´s pieces have been selected for festivals such as Dark Music Days, Darmstädter Ferienkurse, International Rostrum of Composers, KLANG Festival, Nordic Music Days and Ung Nordisk Musik. In 2018, Bára received theLéonie Sonning Talent Prize and was the composer in residence at Skálholt Summer Concerts.

Bára has released three albums; Different Rooftops, in 2015, containing pieces for voice, tenor saxophone, double bass and electronics, B R I M S L Ó Ð, in 2016, a piece in three movements for double bass and electronics, and Mass for some in 2017, for double bass, voice and electronics. She is currently working on a new album in collaboration with Skúli Sverrisson, as well as a new solo album, to be released in 2019.

Bára is an active performer and regularly plays her own music. In addition to this, she is the double bassist of Elja Ensemble, Skark Ensemble, and Balkan-band Orphic Oxtra. She has also performed with Ensemble Adapter, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and S.L.Á.T.U.R..

Bára is a member of the Swedish-Icelandic composers’ collective Errata, a long with Finnur Karlsson, Halldór Smárason, Haukur Þór Harðarson and Petter Ekman. The collective aims to provide a platform for young composers to present themselves and their art as widely as possible, as well as promoting new and innovative ways in composition and distribution.